Kite control



y 2, 1967 R. J. ZOBL m 3,317,165

KITE CONTROL Filed July 9, 1965 INVENTOR. RA WHO/V0 JOHN 2062 ll United States "Patent 3,317,165 KITE CONTROL Raymond John Zohl HI, 27077 Bennett, Redford Township, Detroit, Mich. 48240 Filed July 9, 1965, Ser. No. 470,673 Claims. (Cl. 244155) This invention relates to flying kites and has particular reference to a device for controlling the flight of a kite.

An object of the invention is to generally improve kite controls, and to provide a device of that character which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and efiicient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which may be employed on any type of kite, and may be installed on the kite by an amateur, even a child, without the necessity of using tools of any kind.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated, which will permit the operator to control the flight of the kite from the ground, so that the kite may be controlled from the initial take oif to maximum altitude.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which allows the operator to manipulate the kite through almost any conceivable move ment without making awkward or cumbersome changes to the kite itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control for a kite through which the kite may be caused to dive, make right or left banks, large or small loops, and other aerial maneuvers.

Another object of the invention is to provide :a control for a kite whereby the kite may attack other kites in the manner of an aerial dogfight, and perform other types of aerial acrobatics.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which permits the operator to turn the face of the kite in almost any direction, so that the kite Will instantaneously and positively react to the manual commands of the operator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated which may be attached to the bridle string of any conventional kite, whereby the angle of incidence of the kite may be adjusted from time to time to compensate for changing wind conditions.

I am aware of the fact that others have disclosed and patented various types of control devices for kites, but the control devices heretofore known to the public have been complicated and cumbersome, and in order to use them it is necessary for the operator to make major overhauls in the construction of the kite, or to add to the kite myriads of new elements in order that the controls could function.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a control system for any type of kite, which will obviate the difiicult-ies hereinbefore encountered.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the within disclosure, in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of a conventional kite, on which is mounted the device embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a reduced rear shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail, in perspective, showing the device embodying the invention.

FIG. 4 is .a top plan view of the principal element embodying my control device, w-' h the control strings removed.

perspective view of the kite 3,317,165 Patented May 2, 1967 FIG. 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 5 5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now more be understood that in zontal cross bow 9, and a cover 1 0, which may be made of paper, plastic, or fabric, or any other suitable material, and which is secured to the members 8 and 9 by any suitable means.

As shown in FIG. 1, the kite 7 is provided with a bridle string 11, the ends of which are tied to the vertical stick 8, as at 12 and 13. The kite is also provided with two control strings 14 and 15 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). The control strings 14 and 15 are tied to the ends of the cross bow 9, as at 16 and 17 (FIG. 1).

The use of two control strings, such as 14 and 15, is not original with the applicant, however, in devices previously known to the public, the control strings 14 and 15 were manipulated by means of sticks, control rods, or simply by holding one string in each hand and effecting the control of the kite by manipulating the operators arms.

The instant invention, however, calls for a simple device which is generally indicated by the reference character 18, which I will now describe in detail.

The device 18, embodying the invention, is a flat, platelike member which is preferably made of a plastic, although it could be made of metal, wood or other material. The element 18 is preferably rounded at each end, so that it has no sharp corners to damage the kite cover or get caught on the strings, and is provided with apertures 19 and 20, for receiving the control strings 14 and 15.

The walls of the apertures 19 and 20 are curved conveXly, as shown in FIG. 5, so that the control strings 14 and 15 may slide therethrough with a minimum of resistance.

The member 18 is also provided with a plurality of comparatively smaller apertures 21, through which the bridle string 11 is threaded, as shown in FIG. 3. The threading of the bridle string 11 through the plurality of apertures 21, provides suflicient friction to prevent the member 18 from sliding thereon when once an adjustment is made, but it enables the member 18 to be adjusted on the bridle string 11, when sufiicient it to overcome the friction of the bridle string 11 as it extends through the multiplicity of holes.

By moving the member 18 higher or lower on the bridle string 11, the angle of incidence of the kite is readily adjusted for any wind condition.

The member 18 is assembled on the kite by extending the bridle string 11 through the aperture 21 and the control strings 14 and 15 through the apertures 19 and 20, and tying the ends as at 12, 13, 16 and 17. The assembly may be made by even a child, without any tools whatsoever.

When the desired adjustment is made between the member 18 and the bridle string 11, so that and is henceforth controlled by the manipulation of the control strings 14 and 1 in the apertures 19 and 20.

It is believed that the operation of the device is obvious from the foregoing description.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a kite having a single length bridle string secured at one end to the top and secured at the other end to the bottom of said kite, and a separate control string secured to each side of said kite, the combination of a plate like member having a plurality of apertures therein positioned along a median line of said which are slideably received plate with said bridle string received in said apertures, and a comparatively larger aperture near each end of said plate with one of said control strings slideably received in each last named aperture.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, in which said first named apertures are in excess of three and are arranged in alignment along the short median line of said plate.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said larger apertures are formed with convex walls to facilitate the sliding of said control strings therein.

4. The structure of claim 1, in which said plate is adjustable on said single bridle string by the frictional engagement of said string with the Walls of at least one of said first named apertures.

5. A kite control device comprising a flat plate like element of plastic material having rounded ends and havof vertically aligned apertures therein for receiving the single bridle string of said kite and having a comparatively larger aperture with convex walls at each end for slideably receiving a pair of kite control strings.

ing a plurality MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner. 15 P. E. SAUBERER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A KITE HAVING A SINGLE LENGTH BRIDLE STRING SECURED AT ONE END TO THE TOP AND SECURED AT THE OTHER END TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID KITE, AND A SEPARATE CONTROL STRING SECURED TO EACH SIDE OF SAID KITE, THE COMBINATION OF A PLATE LIKE MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF APERTURES THEREIN POSITIONED ALONG A MEDIAN LINE OF SAID PLATE WITH SAID BRIDLE STRING RECEIVED IN SAID APERTURES, AND A COMPARATIVELY LARGER APERTURE NEAR EACH END OF SAID PLATE WITH ONE OF SAID CONTROL STRINGS SLIDEABLY RECEIVED IN EACH LAST NAMED APERTURE. 